In this part of the winter weddings in Southern California, I’m going to focus on some of the types of photographs you may want your wedding photographer to capture during your winter wedding. While this is not an exhaustive list, it’s a good start. The only limit that exists is your imagination (and of course time if you are rushed during your wedding).
Infrared photography:
Infrared Wedding Photography
If your wedding takes place in the snow, for example Big Bear, then you may not want to use infrared photography. However, chances are you won’t encounter much snow in many places in
Southern California, therefore, the use of infrared photography can dramatically change the look of your wedding from one that is ordinary to an extraordinary winter wedding look. This style and technique is something you want to discuss with your photographer and make sure they are equipped and knowledgeable on the use of black and white infrared photography. Quite a few photographers are using digital these days and infrared differs greatly between film and digital. So, again, yo want to discuss this with your wedding photographer and their comfort level with the process.
Winter decorations:
As I mentioned earlier in the last post on winter wedding favors, you want to make sure that you have decorated with wedding favors that convey your winter wedding theme. By decorating with your theme, your photographer will have plenty of opportunities to capture the feel of the season. Again, discuss this with your photographer as some may not place too much emphasis on the little details that you have spent so hard searching and preparing for.
Plants:
Winter Christmas Weddings
Another idea for decorating your winter wedding may include plants. This also gives your photographer more opportunities to capture the feel and mood of your winter wedding theme. Some suggestions include: poinsettias, pine cones,, pine trees (in small planters), or even a Christmas tree if that’s your thing and your winter wedding takes place in December. Notice the Christmas tree in the image to the right. It’s present, yet not the focal point of the picture. But you still get the feel of the season.
Angles or Angel Wings:
The presence of Angels is not just a religious icon, but it represents the Christmas season as well as winter. Your wedding dress may incorporate angel wings or you may want to consider the flower girls(s) wearing angel wings and sprinkling snow flakes down the aisle instead of rose pedals.
Fireplace:
Nothing says romance and winter like a fireplace. If your wedding site has one, then by all means you want to incorporate that into your photos. Fire places can enhance your winter wedding photos and videos. If you’re getting married on the beach, then a bonfire will work as well to communicate visually that it’s winter or cold at least. Take a look at this image of the fire place I used in the post for Valentines Day Wedding’s.
Snow:
This is without saying, but getting snow may be a bit of a challenge. If your budget allows it, you may wan to import snow for your wedding day ( I know, that may be a little too much). If you find that you are neither in the mountains for snow nor you can afford snow, one great way to “fake” a snow image is the use of infrared photography I mentioned above.
While I’m sure I only touched the surface when it comes to winter wedding photography ideas, but hopefully, it’s a start for you and gives you some ideas as well as helps you generate additional creative ideas for great winter themed wedding photography.
I decided to write a four part series for winter weddings in Southern California. Actually, I have given the topic it’s own category and hope to add to the category on a regular basis. but for now, I’ll write the 4 parts to this series over the week – The general introduction (this post, favors and colors, photography opportunities, and finally a list of tips for your winter wedding. I’ll be adding various other articles and perhaps some key wedding venues that may be of interest to brides seeking a winter wedding location in Southern California.
Winter weddings in Southern California almost sounds like an oxymoron. After all, the mere name, Southern California, conjures up images of sunny warm weather. However, despite popular belief, we do have a winter in Southern California, regardless of the lack of snowfall in the local mountains or sub-freezing temperatures like the east coast. Brides seeking to fulfill their childhood fantasy of a winter wonderland wedding are not left out in the cold in Southern California, especially the past few weeks as we have seen snow fall at low elevations and a drop in temperatures one could associate with winter in Northern California.
Southern California has some of the nations best weather and with its mild winters (average temperature in the mid to upper 60’s in the months of December) it’s no wonder California is host to the majority of U.S. weddings as well as destination weddings with bookings well over 213,000 in 2006 according to The Wedding Report. So while Jack Frost spends most of his time chilling the north and north east, California brides can rest assured that they too can have a piece of the frost for their wedding. To ensure that you capture the most of your winter wedding, Southern California Wedding Photography has put together a suggestion list (over 4 parts) of what you may want to consider when planning your winter wedding.
Winter Wedding Locations – Southern California
While the beach tends to be a popular spot for weddings in California, if you’re seeking a more traditional look and feel for your winter wedding, we suggest a wedding venue that may lend itself to more of a winter theme. By doing so, it provides the backdrop for stunning photographs and video that will remind you of your well planned event. One suggestion may be to get married in a small chapel, especially one in the local San Bernardino mountains, with communities such as Big Bear or Lake Arrowhead (I’ll be doing a few blog posts on Big Bear in a few weeks. First I have to make it up there in all of the current snow). Another suggestion would be the woods. This can provide for a stunning photo or video backdrop because wooded areas and lakes tend to remind people of the north and hence, winter.
You’ll also find that many Bed and Breakfasts, such as the Christmas House in Rancho Cucamonga, offer a themed Christmas wedding environment. Completely decorated with a Christmas tree, ornaments, and the coziness you would find if you where at home. If you’re not opposed to having a “Christmas” wedding, then nothing screams winter louder than a Christmas theme.
But in the end, the location is only part of the overall feel for your winter wedding. You can certainly hold your wedding in a private residence and still capture the charm and warmth of winter. Your wedding favors and colors will determine a big part of your winter wonderland wedding momories. I’ll make note of both favors and colors in part 2 of this series tomorrow.
About the Photo in this post: The main photo in this post was taken at the Christmas House in Rancho Cucamonga. I used a remote Nikon SB800 flash mounted on a tripod off to the left side. The flash had a amber filter over it, this provided for an overall warm feeling to the photo. The camera was mounted on a tripod and set at 2.8 1/30th of a second. The iso was not recorded. The photo depicts a cold, winter environment with its dark clouds, but the warmth of the lighting gives it an overall cozy feel.
